Latest revision as of 02:47, 12 April 2014

Albert (Ritzes) Hardenberg, a Reformed theologian, born in 1510 at Hardenberg, Dutch province of Overijssel, was educated at the Aduard Monastery near
Groningen and Louvain, Belgium. After some time at Wittenberg he went to the Archbishopric of Cologne to help Hermann von Wied with the Reformation (1544). It was during the same time that Menno Simons worked in this area. John a Lasco, a friend of Hardenberg’s stopped here twice during this time. They corresponded about Menno's activities. Hardenberg also wrote to Vadian about Menno's successful work in this area. No doubt Hardenberg was also in touch with the Mennonites during his activities at Emden, where he served as a minister from 1567 until his death on 18 May 1574.

Of interest is what Hardenberg says about Menno: "One who has had stupid teachers during his studies hardly teaches with understanding. Those who have left monasteries without study and without correct understanding or are self-taught have done much damage to the church. Such a one is a certain Menno Simons, whom I knew as a rural priest, who after reading fanatical books indiscriminately and taking the Bible into his hands without judgment and formal education has done much harm among the Frisians, Belgians, Menapiers, Saxons, Cymbrians, over all Germany, France, Britain, and all surround­ing countries, so that posterity will not be able to shed sufficient tears on this account."